title: Efficacy of Lactobacillus paracasei sub. paracasei F19 on abdominal symptoms in patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The standard therapeutic approach for symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (DD) remains to be defined, and only a few studies have tested the efficacy of probiotics in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with symptomatic uncomplicated DD were randomized to a control arm, i.e., (group A, [N.=16], high-fibre diet alone), or to Group B ([n=18], twice daily 1 sachet of probiotic + high-fibre diet), or group C ([N.=16], twice daily 2 sachets of probiotic + high-fibre diet). The probiotic Genefilus F19© containing Lactobacillus paracasei sub. paracasei F19 was administered for 14 days/month for 6 months. The primary endpoint under consideration was a decrease in abdominal pain and bloating intensity after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bloating decreased significantly in Groups B and C VAS score group B: 4.6 ± 2.6 vs. 2.3 ± 2.0, P<0.05, group C: 3.9 ± 2.9 vs. 1.8 ± 2.1, P<0.05). The decrease in abdominal pain within 24 hours in these groups did not reach statistical significance. During treatment, none of the group B (N.=4) or group C patients (N=3) with abdominal pain >24 hours reported the recurrence of this symptom, while the 3 group A patients reported at least one episode (P=0.016). No significant difference regarding abdominal pain <24 hours and bloating was observed between the two groups of patients treated with a low or high probiotic dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lactobacillus paracasei F19, in association with a high-fibre diet, is effective in reducing abdominal bloating and prolonged abdominal pain in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease, and could thus be a promising option in the treatment of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive and Liver Disease, University Sapienza, Rome, Italy. bruno.annibale@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Annibale
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maconi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lahner
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuomo
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D000368:Aged; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004238:Diverticulitis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D004240:Diverticulum; D005260:Female; D005414:Flatulence / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007780:Lacticaseibacillus casei; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome